Rural summit begins today
Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff encouraged Pennsylvanians to participate in the inaugural Pennsylvania Rural Summit today and Wednesday at the Seven Springs Conference Center in Champion. The summit is a joint effort by Gov. Edward G. Rendell, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Pennsylvania Rural Development Council (PRDC). “The Pennsylvania Rural Summit will raise awareness about critical rural development issues such as health care, infrastructure, education and economic development,” said Wolff. “This summit features interactive sessions for participants to explore rural development programs and resources; share successful rural ventures; and discuss opportunities to strengthen and revitalize Pennsylvania’s rural communities.”
More than 250 participants who represent rural interests, including public officials, agency officials, associations, corporations and developers are expected to attend the summit. Speakers will include Wolff; Mark Drabenstott, vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and director of the Center for the Study of Rural America; state Secretary of Legislative Affairs Steve Crawford; and Deputy Secretary of Community and Economic Development Mickey Rowley.
The PRDC is a federal/state partnership between the Office of the Governor and USDA Rural Development (USDA RD). USDA RD is the largest financier of rural development projects in the country. The summit follows a series of seven Rural Issues Forums held regionally in Pennsylvania by the PRDC during the spring.
Call 717-705-0431 to register. The fee is $95. For more information, contact Bill Sturges, executive director, Pennsylvania Rural Development Council 717-772-9028 or www.ruralpa.state.pa.us
.